For more than fifty years the City of Plano Swimmers (COPS) has taught North Texas residents to swim, but the organization has never owned a pool. That changes this fall as COPS breaks ground on the Center of Performance Swimming, a 30,000‑square‑foot aquatic complex slated for completion in December 2026.
Project scope and community impact
The new center will feature four temperature‑controlled pools—a 50‑meter, a 25‑yard, a second 25‑yard, and a warm teaching pool—allowing competitive athletes, beginners, seniors and families to train in environments that suit their needs. COPS estimates the facility will add more than 6,000 lane hours each month, dramatically expanding year‑round access and reducing reliance on rented city‑owned lanes.
Executive Director Barbara Roselli explained that the nonprofit’s mission extends beyond competition. “We don’t want anybody to drown. Nobody,” she said. “We want to make sure nobody drowns in our neighborhoods.” The center is intended to serve children learning their first strokes, competitive swimmers, and adults seeking fitness or recreation.
Funding challenges and community appeal
The project’s original budget was $6.2 million, with COPS contributing $2.1 million from its savings and seeking the remainder through fundraising, private loans and bank financing. At the time of the May funding plan a $1.3 million gap was identified. Rising construction costs—particularly a 30 percent jump in structural steel and a $300,000 increase for the HVAC system—have widened that gap.
Roselli noted that if the project were started today, an additional $2 million would likely be required. “The capital requirements have been difficult to manage,” she said. “When we first signed our lease and made the plans, we had been very good stewards of our money. We had the money in the bank and that just hasn’t worked with all the price increases and everything.”
Local demand drives urgency
Demand for swim lessons is already outpacing available space. After clearing its tryout list, COPS saw its wait‑list swell to about 200 children within weeks. “We’re up to 200 kids on the wait list now and have no place to put them,” Roselli said. “We just decided this community needed another facility.”
The nonprofit will continue renting lane space from the city after the new center opens, but owning its own facility will give COPS greater control over operating hours, programming and capacity.
How residents can help
COPS is accepting donations through its official online page and encourages residents to share the project with local businesses, foundations and individuals who value water‑safety education, youth sports and community wellness. The organization hopes that a broad base of support will bridge the funding shortfall and bring the aquatic center to completion on schedule.
Located at 1300 Custer Road near 15th Street, the Center of Performance Swimming aims to become a hub for families, athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike. “We want to be your home for aquatics,” Roselli affirmed.
Original reporting: Local Profile (DFW) — read the source article.
